Device for imprinting successive numbers on moving boxes or the like

ABSTRACT

A device for imprinting symbols such as successive numbers on articles such as boxes as the latter travel along a given path. The device includes a support which carries a swingable base urged by a spring toward the path of movement of the articles. This base carries a rotary drive which is frictionally driven by the articles as the latter move along the path. This rotary drive carries the imprinting symbols which print identifying numbers or the like on the article during rotation of the rotary drive by the article itself. The imprinting device is adjusted from one number to the next automatically during rotation of the rotary drive in response to actuation of an adjusting member by a stationary cam with respect to which the rotary drive rotates. Also ink is transferred from an inking roll to the imprinting unit through a transfer roll with the latter driven by frictional engagement with the rotary drive. Thus the entire device is driven solely from the movement of the articles which are to be imprinted with the successive numbers or the like.

United States Patent Ira S. Gottscho [72] Inventor Milburn, NJ.

[2]] Appl. No. 29,595

[22] Filed Apr. 17, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, I971 [73] Assignee Adolph Gottscho Inc.

Unlon, NJ.

[54] DEVICE FOR IMPRINTING SUCCESSIVE NUMBERS ON MOVING BOXES OR THE LIKE Primary Examiner-William B. Penn Assistant Examiner-E. M. Coven Anomey-B1um, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan ABSTRACT: A device for imprinting symbols such as successive numbers on articles such as boxes as the latter travel along a given path. The device includes a support which carries a swingable base urged by a spring toward the path of movement of the articles. This base carries a rotary drive which is frictionally driven by the articles as the latter move along the path. This rotary drive carries the imprinting symbols which print identifying numbers or the like on the article during rotation of the rotary drive by the article itself. The imprinting device is adjusted from one number to the next automatically during rotation of the rotary drive in response to actuation of an adjusting member by a stationary cam with respect to which the rotary drive rotates. Also ink is transferred from an inking roll to the imprinting unit through a transfer roll with the latter driven by frictional engagement with the rotary drive. Thus the entire device is driven solely from the movement of the articles which are to be imprinted with the successive numbers or the like.

PATENTEDHUV 30 |97| SHEET 2 OF 5 o H um 05 4 w M ww ms A M m WMJ Q @QQQ H vs 9 ND ww NQTu vw & mm m6 NA mm DEVICE FOR IMPRINTING SUCCESSIVE NUMBERS ON MOVING BOXES OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices for imprinting sue cessive numbers or the like on successive articles such as boxes which are conveyed along a given path.

At the present time there are known devices capable of imprinting successive numbers sequentially on the surfaces of boxes or the like as the latter are conveyed along a given path by any suitable conveyor. For this purpose the known devices generally require electrical components or the like which must be connected to a source of current and which have sensors actuated by the movement of the articles so as to bring about signals for actuating electrical devices to produce the sequential numbering of the successive articles.

Devices of this latter type are extremely complex and expensive. They must be connected to a source of power, and considerable maintenance is required. In addition complex procedures are involved in properly setting these devices up so that they will operate properly. They must be connected to a source of energy, and the known structures are relatively delicate so that frequent repairs are necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a prime object of the present invention to provide a device of the above general type which will avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which does not require any outside source of power but which instead operates solely from movement derived from the article to which the number or the like is applied.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction of this type which is composed of relatively simple rugged elements which will operate reliably with a minimum of maintenance.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction of this type which can be quickly and readily mounted in position and which can be quickly and readily adjusted to bring about the desired operations.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction of this type which lends itself to use with articles of widely different sizes.

According to the invention, a base means is supported for swinging movement toward and away from the traveling articles by suitable support means. The base means carries a rotary drive means which is frictionally engaged by the articles as they move along a given path, so that the rotary drive means is rotated by the articles themselves. This rotary drive means carries an imprinting means for imprinting numbers or the like on the articles, and an adjusting means coats with the imprinting means for adjusting the latter to imprint successive numbers or the like. A stationary cam means is carried by the base means and coacts with the adjusting means as the latter rotates with the rotary drive means to adjust the imprinting means for imprinting successive numbers on successive articles. A positioning means is also carried by the base means and coacts with the rotary drive means for automatically positioning the latter at a given starting position after each article moves beyond the rotary drive means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the device of the invention shown with schematically and fragmentarily illustrated boxes which are to be imprinted;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

'FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the various components of the device of the invention and the manner in which they are to be assembled together;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of the structure of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 of FIG..1 in the direction of the arrows and showing in particular the rotary drive and the imprinting means carried thereby;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing in particular the structure for adjusting an ink-transfer roll with respect to the imprinting means;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the ink-transfer roll and parts associated therewith;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the device of FIGS. I and 2 as it appears when looking at the device from below; and

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional fragmentary plan view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the details of a positioning means for automatically positioning a rotary drive at a given angular position prior to each operating cycle.

Referring now to the drawings, the device 10 of the present invention, shown substantially in its entirety in FIGS. 14 and 7, includes a support means 12 for supporting the device on a sidewall of a frame for a conveyor, for example. This support means 12 includes a stationary shaft 14 fixedly carried by a clamping bracket 16. The clamping bracket 16 has a pair of spaced portions 18 which can be urged toward each other by a screw 20 which can be turned whenever desired by a wrench 22. The clamping bracket 16 has a pair of wings 24 provided with openings 26 through which mounting screws may extend so as to mount the bracket on a wall of a frame of a conveyor. Thus, with this construction it is possible to clamp the shaft 14 of the support means in a position where it extends vertically.

The support means further includes an elongated arm 30 fixed in any suitable way to the shaft 14, as by a cross pin 32 indicated in FIG. 2. This arm 30, the details of which are most clearly apparent from FIG. 7, is formed with a transverse threaded bore receiving a stop screw 34 which is held in an adjusted position by a locknut 36.

A washer 38 rests on the part of the arm 30 through which the shafl 14 extends, and this washer serves to support on the arm 30 and on the shaft 14 a base means 40 which is freely swingable on the shaft 14. This base means 40 has a bore lined with a suitable bushing 42 through which the shaft 14 extends. Thus, the base means 40 can swing freely about the shaft 14. This base means 40 is of a substantially paddle-shaped configuration and has along its edge depending flanges 44. One of these flanges 44 carries a pin 46 (FIG. 7) to which one end of a spring 48 is connected. The other end of the spring 48 is connected to a pin 50 carried by the arm 30 of the support means 12. As a result, the base means 40 is supported on the shaft 14 in such a way that it is urged in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 48 about stationary shaft 14, as viewed in FIG. 7. An inner surface of the upper flange 44, as viewed in FIG. 7, engages the head of the adjusting screw 34, so as to determine the angular position of the base means 40 in this way.

Referring to FIG. I, it should be noted that the spring 48, which is not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity, urges the base means 40 to turn in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, around the shaft 14. An unillustrated conveyor is provided for conveying articles such as the boxes B fragmentarily illustrated in FIG. 1 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. One box B is fragmentarily shown in solid lines while a position which will later be occupied by the second box B is indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 1. These boxes continuously move one after the other with a suitable spacing therebetween toward the left, along the path indicated by the arrow A. It is in response to the movement of the successive boxes B along the path indicated by the arrow A that the entire device of the invention is actuated. It will be seen that the spring 48 urges the base means 40 toward the articles B until the stop screw 34 is engaged by the base means in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

A rotary drive means 52 is supported for rotary movement by the base means 40. This rotary drive means 52 includes a shaft 54 which is carried by a bearing 56 which in turn is carried by the base means 40. The shaft 54 is fixed to the bearing At its upper end the shaft 54 is received in a tubular portion 60 of an inner core 62 which carries an outer cylinder 64 of the rotary drive means 52. The upper surface of the core 60 is formed with a recess receiving a disc 66 releasable held in position by the heads 68 of three screws 70. The disc 66 has a central square opening receiving an upper square portion at the top of the shaft 54, so that with this construction when the disc 66 is retained in the upper recess of the core 60 and the upper square end portion of the shaft 54 is in the square central opening of the disc 66, the parts are connected so that the core 62 must rotate with the shaft 54. The shaft 54 is formed with a threaded bore extending into the shaft from its top end and receiving a threaded screw 72, so that in this way the disc 66 is maintained in engagement with the shaft 54.

The core 62 has a bottom flange 74 on which a circular rubber ring 76 rests with the latter surrounding the core 62. This core is also surrounded by outer cylinder 64 which rests on the lower ring 76. An upper rubber ring 78 surrounds the upper portion of the core 62 and rests on the top end of the cylinder 64. The upper exterior portion of the core 62 is threaded so as to receive a nut in the fon'n of an internally threaded ring 80. A set screw 82 extends through a threaded bore formed in the upper wall portion of the core 62 and engages the nut 80 so as to maintain the latter in a position where it holds the friction rings 76 and 78 assembled together with the cylinder 64. The rings 76 and 78 tightly grip the core and project outwardly beyond the nut 80 as well as the cylinder 64. These rings extend into the path of movement of the successive boxes B, as indicated in FIG. 1. Thus as each box ap-- proaches the device of the invention it will engage and press against the rings 76 and 78 so as to rotate the rotary drive means 52 while stretching the spring 48 which first maintains the rotary drive means 52 in frictional engagement with each box. After one box B moves beyond the device, the next box B, as schematically shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, will approach the device so as to again actuate it in the same way as the previous box B. Thus with this construction the swingable base 40 carries the rotary drive in such a way that a suitable pressure is maintained between the rotary drive means and the box for frictionally producing rotary motion of the rotary drive means in response to the movement of the box, and this is the sole driving force required for the entire device.

The cylinder 64 is formed with a window 84 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) through which the numbered wheels of an imprinting means 86 extends. This imprinting means is conventional with its numbered wheel being operated automatically to successively imprint sequential numbers after each indexing of the assembly 86. For this purpose the assembly 86 has a bottom indexing ratchet 88. This ratchet can have its teeth engaged by a pin 90 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of a swingable arm 92 connected to the bottom end of a shaft 94 which extends centrally through the several numbering wheels of the imprinting means 86. The entire structure is carried by a suitable frame 96 fixed to the base of a pocket 97 in core 62 by screws 98, said pocket being in registration with window 84 of cylinder 64. A suitable shim 100 (FIG. 3) may be inserted between the core 62 and the frame 96, if desired.

The arm 92 which thus can swing freely about the common axis of the several imprinting discs, carries at its free end a cam follower roller 102 received in an upwardly directed circular camming groove 104 of a cam 106. This cam is formed with an opening 108 within which a bushing 109 is received. The shaft 54 extends through said bushing and is freely rotatable therein. At its right end, as viewed in FIG. 2, a fastening screw 110 extends through an opening in the cam 106 into a correspondingly threaded bore in the head of spacer pin 132. The bottom end of the spacer pin 132 extends through an opening in a mounting plate 112 and carries at its bottom end a nut 114. A grooved roller 130, the purpose of which will be discussed below is rotatably mounted on spacer pin 132 intermediate its head and mounting plate 1 12. Thus, cam 106 is fixedly mounted on mounting plate 112 but spaced therefrom by spacer pin 132 and grooved roller I30.

This mounting. plate 112 is fixedly connected with the base means 40 by screws 116 (FIG. 8) which are received in threaded bores formed in the cylindrical portion 1 18 (FIG. 2) of the base means 40 which houses the bearing 56. The mounting plate 1 12 itself is formed with an opening 120 large enough to provide for free passage of the rotary shaft 54 through the mounting plate 112 and rotation of the inner race of bearing 56.

Thus, with this construction the cam 106 is fixedly mounted on the base 40 so as to be stationary with the latter. It will be noted that the circular camming groove 104 is eccentrically positioned with respect to the opening 108 through which the shaft 54 extends. As a result during rotary movement of the rotary drive means 52, the adjusting means defined by the swingable arm 92 and the ratchet-actuating pin thereof is swung back and forth around the axis of the imprinting means as the latter rotates with the rotary drive means 52, so that after each revolution the imprinting means is indexed for imprinting successive numbers on successive articles.

The mounting plate 112 carries a positioning means which will automatically position the rotary drive means 52 at a predetermined angular location as long as it is turned an initial minimum increment by each article. This only requires that each of the boxes B, for example, have a given minimum length to provide for a predetermined minimum increment of turning of the rotary drive means 52.

This positioning means 122, which is shown most clearly in FIG. 8, includes a rotor I24 fixed to the shaft 54 in order to rotate therewith. For this purpose the rotor 124 rests on a ring 126 mounted on shaft 54 and resting on the inner race of bearing 56. Rotor 124 is clamped between an upper shoulder of the shaft 54 and ring 126 when said shaft is tightened by the nut 58. Just above the rotor 124, the shaft 54 is formed with a groove 128. As shown in FIG. 8, the aperture through which shaft 54 extends and the corresponding portion of said shaft are formed with mating square cross sections to key said rotor to said shaft for common rotation. The mounting plate 112 carries a grooved roller 130 supported for rotary movement on a pin 132 which is fixed to and extends upwardly from the mounting plate 112 as shown most clearly in FIG. 8. An endless coil spring 134 extends around the shaft 54 and the grooved roller 130. The mounting plate 112 also carries stationary pins 136 which are positioned with respect to the endless coil spring 134 in the manner shown in FIG. 8. The rotor 124 itself carries a grooved roller 138 supported for free. rotary movement on the shank of a screw which is fixed to the rotor 124. This roller 138 is supported for free rotary movement on the rotor 124 at its end which is opposed to the latching projection 140 referred to below and shown most clearly in FIG. 8.

This latching projection 140 coacts with a freely swingable latch 142 supported on a pin 144 fixed to and carried by the mounting plate 112. The latch 142 has an actuating pin 146 engaged by a spring 148 one end of which is connected to the pivot pin 144 and the other end of which is connected to a stationary pin 150 which is carried by the mounting plate 112. Thus the latch 142 is urged by the spring 148 in a counterclockwise direction, as used in FIG. 8, until the free end 152 of the latch engages the pin 150. The latch 142 has a latching tooth 154.

With this positioning means 122, as long as the rotary drive means 52 is turned through approximately l80 from its initial position, the positioning means 122 will automatically return to the starting position where the rotor 124 and latch 142 coact in the manner shown in FIG. 8. Thus during each revolution of the rotary drive means 52, the shaft 54 will turn in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 8, and thus the rotor 124 will turn therewith. This will cause the roller 138 to engage the endless coil spring 134 stretching it to the left, as used in FIG. 8, beyond the shaft 154 until a dead center position is reached where the roller 138 has turned around the shaft 54 through approximately l 80 from the position thereof shown in FIG. 8. Once the roller 138 has turned through this dead center position the spring 134 will itself act to complete the turning of the rotor 124 back to the position of FIG. 8. Ac tually, the rotor will turn under the influence of this spring until it almost reaches the position shown in FIG. 8, and then the weight of the parts is sufficient to carry them by inertia to the position indicated in FIG. 8 where the latching projection 140 has just moved beyond the tooth 154 which snaps behind the projection 140 so that the parts will be maintained in the position shown in FIG. 8 ready for the next operation. Further, rotary drive means 52 need not be driven the full l80 by frictional engagement with a carton. In practice, the inertia of the rotary drive means 52 will carry it past the 180 point if it is rotated by frictional engagement with a carton through approximately 150 or even less, depending on the speed of passage of the carton.

The numbered wheels of the imprinting means 86 have the numbers thereon in the form of embossments projecting at the periphery of each wheel, and the frame 96 is mounted on the core 60, particularly with the use of a device such as the shim 100, in such a way that the imprinting symbols project very precisely through a given radial distance beyond the exterior surface of the cylinder 64. This extent to which the imprinting symbols project beyond the cylinder 64 is sufficient not only for clear imprinting of the symbols on the side of the article B but also sufficient for receiving ink from a transfer roll 160. As is indicated most clearly in FIG. 6, the transfer roll 160 is in the form of a cylinder of a material similar to rubber, which is fixed on a sleeve 162. The sleeve 162 is in turn supported for rotary movement on bearing rings 164 carried by a rotary shaft 166 which is in turn supported for rotation by the ball bearings 168. These ball bearings 168 are carried by a cylindrical free end portion 170 of a swingable arm 172 which is supported for swinging movement on the shaft 14 of the support means 12. Thus, the arm 172 which carries the transfer roll 160 will have a swing axis coinciding with that of the base means 40.

At its top end the sleeve 162 fixedly carries a friction ring 174 which is maintained at all times in frictional engagement with the upper friction ring 78 of the rotary drive means 52. As a result whenever the rotary drive means 52 turns, the transfer roll 160 will also turn.

The arm 172 fixedly carries a pin 176 which has beneath the arm 172 an enlarged portion formed with a transverse threaded bore receiving the threaded portion of the shank of a screw 178 (FIG. 5). This screw extends through a transverse bore of a pin 180 which is mounted on the base means 40. A spring 182 is coiled about the shank of the screw 178 so as to urge the latter to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5. Thus, a screwdriver may be applied to the slot at the head of the screw 178 for turning the latter so as to adjust the angular position of the arm 172 with respect to the base 40. This adjustment is brought about to regulate in a very precise manner the pressure between the transfer roll 160 and the imprinting embossments of the numbered wheels. Thus by way of the adjusting structure shown most clearly in FIG. 5, it is possible to provide an operation where precisely the optimum amount of ink is transferred to the imprinting means at each revolution of the drive means.

The top end of the pin 176 is connected with one end of a spring 184. The other end of the spring 184 is connected to an eye at the free end of a swingable arm 186 which is also supported for free-swinging movement on the shaft 14 of the support means 12. Thus, at its right end, as viewed in FIG. 2, the arm 186 is formed with an opening through which the shaft 14 extends, and thus the arms 172 and 186 as well as the base 40 are all supported for swinging movement about a common axis.

The arm I86 fixedly carries a shaft 188 which extends upwardly through a central sleeve portion of a member which carries an inking roll 190. This roll 190 is a known member impregnated with ink which can be delivered to the transfer roll by engaging the latter. The inking roll is situated within a cylindrical housing 192 having a top wall 194. The arm 186 carries a bottom plate 196 formed with a peripheral shoulder overlapped by the bottom periphery of the cylinder 192. The top wall 194 is formed with a central opening through which the shaft 188 extends. As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 6, the cylinder 192 is formed with an axially extending window or opening 198 through which the transfer roll 160 extends into engagement with the inking roll 190. Thus, the spring 184 serves to pull the inking roll 190 into engagement with the transfer roll 160 and maintains the inking roll in engagement with the transfer roll 160. The arm 186 is formed with a transverse threaded bore receiving an elongated adjusting screw 200. The free end of the screw 200 engages a stop pin 202 fixed to and extending upwardly from the arm 172. Thus, the adjusting screw 200 will regulate the pressure between the ink-supply roll 190 and the transfer roll 160.

As may be seen from FIG. 2, the upper end of the shaft 188 is formed with an axial bore which houses a spring-pressed pin 204 which is urged upwardly. A cross pin 206 supports a swing lever 208 for swinging movement at the top end of the pin 204. In the position of the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever 208 extends horizontally along the top surface of the wall 194 so as to releasably retain the housing 192 in its position covering the inking roll 190. The angular position of the housing 192 is determined by a notch therein which receives a locating pin 210 shown at the lower right of the housing 192 in FIG. 2. Thus, the housing 192 will be accurately positioned angularly so that its window 198 is properly aligned with the transfer roll 160.

With this construction, the operator can, whenever desired, turn the swing lever 208 upwardly so that it extends vertically, and this will permit the entire housing 192 to be removed, so that free access may be had to the inking roll 190. Because of the manner in which this roll is impregnated with ink it is advisable to turn the roll over each day, so as to enhance the transfer of ink therefrom to the transfer roll. Thus, it is a simple matter to remove the housing 192, invert inking roll 190, and then replace the housing 192, turning the lever 208 down so as to retain the housing in position.

When the above-described structure of the invention is set up for use, the stop screw 34 is adjusted so that there will be an interference distance d (FIG. 1) between the outer peripheries of the friction rings 76, 78 and the side surface of the article B which is to receive the imprinted numbers or the like. These articles B may be boxes which if sufficiently heavy can simply be pennitted to move in the manner indicated in FIG. 1. However, if they are relatively light, then on the side of the articles opposite the device of the invention there may be guide rails which will prevent the relatively light articles from being dis placed away from the path indicated in FIG. 1. In this way, with this interference d, as each article moves into engagement with the device of the invention, it will reliably rotate the drive means 52 in the direction of the arrow 212 shown in FIG. 1. This will of course result in the imprinting means turning past the transfer roll 160 in order to pick up a layer of ink therefrom and to apply the numbers or other symbols to the article B as the latter continues to travel. As long as this article has a certain minimum length, the rotor 124 will be turned through an angular increment suflicient to cause the endless coil spring 134 to whip the rotor 124 back around to the position shown in FIG. 8, so that the positioning means 122 will function properly to position the rotary drive means 52 at the proper starting position prior to engagement of the drive means by the next box or other article. Of course, as the base means 40 turns through the slight increment resulting from the interference distance d, all of the parts maintain their relationship shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the rotary drive means. The adjusting means shown in FIG. 5 will maintain the transfer roll at all times at the adjusted position with respect to the rotary drive means 52. However, whenever the operator desires to remove and invert the inking roll 190, the arm 186 can clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, away from the transfer roll so as to give free access to the structure carried by the arm 186.

It is thus clear that the above simple rugged structure is readily mounted and adjusted so as to provide the desired sequential numerals or other symbols on any desired articles. Moreover, all of the movement of the parts is derived exclusively from the movement of the articles themselves, and no outside source of power is required. In addition, the structure can readily be adjusted so as to bring about optimum operating conditions. If desired, the device can be provided with a structure which will prevent the rotary drive means from turning through more than one revolution when it is to be used with articles which are greater than a given maximum length. However, ordinarily the articles which are imprinted will have a length ranging between the minimum length required to enable the positioning means 122 to function properly and the maximum length which will prevent the rotary drive means from being turned through more than one revolution from its starting position. While the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is adapted to imprint cartons passing in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, the arrangement can be readily modified, by rearrangement of the parts to permit imprinting on cartons passing in the direction opposite to arrow A.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

l. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coacting with said displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; and positioning means for angularly positioning said rotary drive means at a given starting position including a latch carried by said base means, a rotor to be engaged by said latch and affixed to said rotary drive means for rotary movement therewith so as to locate the latter in a given angular position .determined by said latch, and spring means coacting with said rotor and rotary drive means to be actuated in response to rotation of the latter for automatically situating said rotor and said rotary drive means at a predetermined angular position as long as said rotary drive means has been turned through a predetermined initial increment by engagement with an article moving along said path.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein rotatable inking means coacts with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said inking means being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to driven by the latter when said rotary drive means is rotated by a traveling article.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said inking means includes a freely rotatable transfer roll coacting with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said inking means includes a freely rotatable, ink-impregnated roll engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein support means carries said base means and supports the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said path, and spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said rotary drive means includes a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, a rotor connected to said shaft for rotary movement therewith, said rotor carrying a freely rotatable roller, an endless coil spring extending around said shaft, a pin carried by said plate and around which said endless coil spring also extends, said roller of said rotor being situated between said shaft and pin to be located between opposed portions of said endless coil spring, so that during rotation of said rotor with said shaft said roller will engage said spring and be acted upon by the latter to return said rotor together with said rotary drive means to a given starting position as long as said rotary drive has been turned to an initial angular increment, and latch means coacting with said rotor for determining the starting angular position of said rotary drive means.

7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adjusting means includes cam means connected to said base means and with respect to which said rotary drive means rotates, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and cam means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and during each revolution of said rotary drive means.

8. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotating drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; support means carrying said base means and supporting the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said path; spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article; first and second swingable arms carried by said support means for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the axis about which said base means swings; a transfer roll mounted for free rotation on said first swingable arm coating with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said transfer roll being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby when said rotary means is rotated by a traveling article; and an ink-impregnated roll mounted for free rotation on said second swingable arm and engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.

9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein a pair of adjusting means are provided for adjusting pressure between said inking roll and transfer roll, on the one hand, and between said transfer roll and imprinting means, on the other hand.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said rotary drive means includes a cylinder having a pair of friction rings for frictionally engaging an article, said transfer roll having a friction ring engaging one of the friction rings of said cylinder to be driven by the latter, and said inking roll frictionally engaging said transfer roll to be driven by the latter in response to rotation thereof by said rotary drive means.

11. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for impn'nting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; and adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; said rotary drive means including a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, and a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, said adjusting means including a cam plate fixedly mounted on said base means and having an aperture therethrough, said shaft being journaled through said aperture, said cam plate being formed with a circular camming groove in a surface thereof, said camming groove extending about the aperture in said cam plate and being eccentrically positioned relative to said shaft, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and riding in said camming groove for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means.

12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein a positioning means is carried by said base means and coacts with said rotary drive means for angularly positioning the latter at a given starting position.

13. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said cam follower means includes an arm mounted for pivotable displacement relative to said imprinting means, roller means mounted on said arm and riding in said camming groove to pivot said arm in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means, and actuation means mounted on said arm for pivoting therewith and coacting with said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the pivoting of said arm during each revolution of said rotary drive means.

I I IF i i 

1. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coacting with said displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; and positioning means for angularly positioning said rotary drive means at a given starting position including a latch carried by said base means, a rotor to be engaged by said latch and affixed to said rotary drive means for rotary movement therewith so as to locate the latter in a given angular position determined by said latch, and spring means coacting with said rotor and rotary drive means to be actuated in response to rotation of the latter for automatically situating said rotor and said rotary drive means at a predetermined angular position as long as said rotary drive means has been turned through a predetermined initial increment by engagement with an article moving along said path.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein rotatable inking means coacts with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said inking means being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven by the latter when said rotary drive means is rotated by a traveling article.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said inking means includes a freely rotatable transfer roll coacting with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said inking means includes a freely rotatable, ink-impregnated roll engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.
 5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein support means carries said base means and supports the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said Path, and spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said rotary drive means includes a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, a rotor connected to said shaft for rotary movement therewith, said rotor carrying a freely rotatable roller, an endless coil spring extending around said shaft, a pin carried by said plate and around which said endless coil spring also extends, said roller of said rotor being situated between said shaft and pin to be located between opposed portions of said endless coil spring, so that during rotation of said rotor with said shaft said roller will engage said spring and be acted upon by the latter to return said rotor together with said rotary drive means to a given starting position as long as said rotary drive has been turned to an initial angular increment, and latch means coacting with said rotor for determining the starting angular position of said rotary drive means.
 7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said adjusting means includes cam means connected to said base means and with respect to which said rotary drive means rotates, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and cam means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and during each revolution of said rotary drive means.
 8. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotating drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; support means carrying said base means and supporting the latter for swinging movement toward and away from an article as the latter moves along said path; spring means acting through said base means on said rotary drive means to maintain the latter in frictional engagement with said article; first and second swingable arms carried by said support means for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the axis about which said base means swings; a transfer roll mounted for free rotation on said first swingable arm coating with said imprinting means for transferring ink thereto, said transfer roll being operatively connected to said rotary drive means to be driven thereby when said rotary means is rotated by a traveling article; and an ink-impregnated roll mounted for free rotation on said second swingable arm and engaging said transfer roll for supplying ink thereto.
 9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein a pair of adjusting means are provided for adjusting pressure between said inking roll and transfer roll, on the one hand, and between said transfer roll and imprinting means, on the other hand.
 10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said rotary drive means includes a cylinder having a pair of friction rings for frictionally engaging an article, said transfer roll having a friction ring engagiNg one of the friction rings of said cylinder to be driven by the latter, and said inking roll frictionally engaging said transfer roll to be driven by the latter in response to rotation thereof by said rotary drive means.
 11. A device for imprinting successive numbers or the like on successive articles as the latter move along a given path comprising, base means; rotary drive means supported by said base means for free rotary movement with respect thereto, said rotary drive means being situated in the path of movement of an article to be frictionally engaged and driven by the latter as the article travels along said path; imprinting means carried by said rotary drive means for imprinting numbers or the like on an article as the latter passes said rotary drive means and rotates the latter, said imprinting means being adjustable for imprinting the successive numbers or the like; and adjusting means coating with said base means for displacement in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means and coupled to said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next during each revolution of said rotary drive means in response to said displacement of said adjustment means; said rotary drive means including a cylinder formed with an opening through which said imprinting means extends to engage an article, said cylinder having an interior core carrying said imprinting means, and a shaft supported for rotary movement by said base means and carrying said core, said adjusting means including a cam plate fixedly mounted on said base means and having an aperture therethrough, said shaft being journaled through said aperture, said cam plate being formed with a circular camming groove in a surface thereof, said camming groove extending about the aperture in said cam plate and being eccentrically positioned relative to said shaft, and displaceable cam follower means coacting with said imprinting means and riding in said camming groove for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means.
 12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein a positioning means is carried by said base means and coacts with said rotary drive means for angularly positioning the latter at a given starting position.
 13. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said cam follower means includes an arm mounted for pivotable displacement relative to said imprinting means, roller means mounted on said arm and riding in said camming groove to pivot said arm in response to the rotation of said rotary drive means, and actuation means mounted on said arm for pivoting therewith and coacting with said imprinting means for adjusting said imprinting means from one number or the like to the next in response to the pivoting of said arm during each revolution of said rotary drive means. 